the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FATHER AND SON.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
contrarilyadverb
in a contrary disobedient manner
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
downstairsadverbUS /ˈdaʊnˈsterz/
on a floor below
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
take in solid food
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading FATHER AND SON.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
in a free manner
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
an established custom
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
the food served and eaten at one time
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
OgdennounUS /ˈɑːɡdən/
English psychologist who collaborated with I. A. Richards in designing Basic English (1889-1957)
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
a judge of a probate court
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
pepperverbUS /ˈpepər/
add pepper to
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
quantitynounUS /ˈkwɑːntəti/
how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
SarahnounUS /ˈserə/
(Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
Sarah'snounUS /ˈserəz/
possessive form of “sarah” — (Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
small-beer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
a male human offspring
From this reading FATHER AND SON.
taciturnadjectiveUS /ˈtæsɪtɜːrn/
habitually reserved and uncommunicative
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Ogden came downstairs in the middle of the day, and ordered breakfast and dinner in one meal.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading He asked especially for Sarah's small-beer, and drank two or three large glasses of it.
not usual or common or ordinary
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading He did not eat much, and used an unusual quantity of pepper.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was extremely taciturn, contrarily to his ordinary habit, for he commonly talked very freely with old Sarah whilst she served him.
